Minute-By-Minute (BoyxBoy)

Chapter 19

How late do you have to work?, I text Julian since he had told me that he would probably have to stay at the office later than usual since it was our first day back at work since the Hawaii trip. I mean, I technically threw myself back into Home Our Community since that's where we went right after we landed, but that's whatever.

I'm not sure but I'll try to hurry things up. You'll stay up for me?, he texts back.

What else would I do?, I type back before settling my phone onto my leg as I wait for his response. I knew he was in a meeting since he had them back-to-back today, so it could be a while before he checked his phone again. I was currently sitting on one of the chairs in the support center since the kids had roped me into watching a movie with them. Derek, Alexander, Megan, and Imara were all at the house since I was still going through with the punishments for them, so I was with the other kids.

It was good to catch up with them all and I even helped them with the study group that they did when they first got here since I was still surprisingly good at chemistry. I don't know how since I took it eight years ago, but I guess my memory was just good. We were watching some action film that was PG-13 (since that's all we allowed them to watch) and it was a bit boring, but the kids seemed to be enjoying it.

My phone vibrated against my leg and I picked it up to see that Julian actually texted me back pretty quickly. You don't usually wait up for me, idiot

I chuckle, realizing that he was right. Whenever he worked late, I just fall asleep at a regular time since you never know when he would finally leave work. I shake my head as I start to text him back. Well, I'm feeling nice tonight, moron

When I look up, the movie credits were rolling and all the kids were starting to stretch out since they had all decided to sit on the uncomfortable floor for the movie. One of the girls, Yvonne, glanced at me with a knowing smirk. "Did you even watch any of the movie?"

"Oh, totally," I say, making my sarcasm clear with my voice. The group rolls their eyes before muttering 'liar' and other rude words that I decide to just ignore. I sit up in my chair, checking my watch to see that it was almost time for the Home Our Community kids to go home and for the guests to go to their own houses. "well, start getting your stuff ready, guys."

They all nod their heads before getting up from their spots on the floor. Winston, one of the kids that regularly visited the center, walked up to me with a shy smile on his face. "I have a math test coming up and I need help."

"Oh, man, math?" I ask with a guilty look on my face. For some reason, my brain just didn't understand numbers whatsoever, like I just froze up whenever I saw an equation that I was supposed to be solving, but I somehow passed all my math classes. Not gonna say that I didn't cheat, but who cares? "I could definitely try, but I'm pretty sure Hannah is really good at math. I'll get someone to take her place at the receptionist desk tomorrow and have her help you out, sound good?"

Winston nods his head, looking pretty relieved to have help. I'm pretty sure he was bisexual, but he was still pretty new so he hasn't opened up much to us. I loved having other kids come here to just get away from real life for a bit because some of them had pretty tough times at home, so if this place was going to help take some stress off, I was super grateful for it. It also gave a chance for the kids to make friends with new people since I knew that school wasn't always a welcoming place for them.

"You have a ride home?" I ask Winston, who nods his head before grabbing his bag. He starts to say bye to his friends before leaving with Jessica, who was in charge of making sure the kids got into cars or whatever other transportation they were taking. Some kids usually caught the bus since we were just a block away from a bus stop and even though it worried me, I couldn't possibly drive all of them home. That would just be way too much, even though I wish I could.